Kirby pledges to help firms meet challenge of change

Carolyn Kirby last week became the first woman president in the history of the the Law Society, with a pledge to help firms meet the 'dynamic changes' facing the profession.

Ms Kirby, only the third Welsh president, said: 'Among the many forces driving these changes are increasing demands from clients, calls from the competition authorities for an end to restrictive practices, tough government policies on publicly funded legal services, and expanding e-business.

'I intend to lead the Law Society in helping firms adapt effectively.'

Ms Kirby is 49 and married to a solicitor in Swansea.

She qualified in 1979, spent more than 20 years in private practice, and now chairs both the mental health review tribunal for Wales and the Society's mental health and disability committee.

She spent six years as a non-executive director of West Glamorgan Health Authority and also chairs a cancer charity.

Peter Willamson took over as Vice-President, while Ed Nally became Deputy Vice-President.